British Queen attends Maundy ceremony
The British queen makes a first visit to Co Armagh today to distribute Maundy money at the traditional pre-Easter religious service dating back centuries.
It is the first time the ceremony has been conducted in Ireland and only the second time outside England.
The Queen will distribute alms to 82 men and 82 women – the number dictated by the age of the monarch – at a special service at the Church of Ireland’s St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh city.
The recipients have been selected from the four main denominations in the North in recognition of their work for their church and community.
The service will round off a three-day visit by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh which was itself a royal first, having been part publicised by Buckingham Palace weeks in advance – a sign of the changed times in the province.
Nevertheless, security was expected to be high in the city after dissident republicans threatened to mount a protest.
The Royal Maundy service is a long-established tradition, first recorded in 1210 when King John was at Knaresborough in Yorkshire, but which can be traced back to the 7th century.
Each of the 164 men and women are presented with 82 pence – in newly minted Sterling silver coins worth much more than their face value.
Unlike ordinary circulating coinage upon which the Queen’s image has changed three times, the Maundy money image remains that prepared by Mary Gillick for the first coins issued in the 1953 coronation year.
As final preparations for the service were made, the Dean of Armagh Cathedral, the Reverend Patrick Rooke, said: “This is a great honour for us in Armagh. We are excited and certain that this will be a memorable and special service for all those involved.”
Sinn Féin has stayed away from any royal engagement during the Queen’s visit but voiced no opposition to it.
While the Queen is in Armagh, Sinn Féin is celebrating the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising at Stormont.
MLAs will hear traditional music and speeches in their party offices.
